Taking immersive experiences to a whole new level is the Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) in Saudi Arabia. The marquee has recently revealed design plans for a new mountain resort in the country, and it is mind-boggling, to say the least!
Aptly called ‘The Desert Rock Resort,’ the concept entails carving out a luxury hotel into a rock mountain for its future guests in the most dramatic desert landscapes in the world. It is part of The Red Sea Project (TRSP) and is intended to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s unique natural beauty and Nabatean heritage.
Commenting on it, John Pagano, TRSDC CEO, said, “Since the inception of the Desert Rock project, creating a development that combines luxury, sustainability and an immersive experience for our guests has been at the heart of it all,” while adding, “We cannot wait to welcome guests to enjoy a stay at this unique property.”
Taking inspiration from beautiful mountains, volcanoes, and wadis in its vicinity, the Desert Rock resort will feature 48 villas and 12 hotel suites (with a select number excavated within the rock massif itself). It will offer panoramic views of the pristine surroundings along with state-of-the-art facilities, including a world-class spa and fitness center, remote destination dining areas as well as a feature lagoon oasis.
Remarking further on it, Chad Oppenheim, Founder of Oppenheim Architecture, the design, and planning firm behind the concept, added, “Desert Rock offers a ‘never before seen’ opportunity for guests to connect physically and metaphysically with one of the most dramatic desert landscapes in the world. Our key intention when designing the resort was to build with the land, not on it, and to be mindful of the stunning natural elements that already exist at the site, amplifying its natural beauty.”
Fully integrated into the rocky surroundings, the architecture of the resort will aim at preserving the striking silhouette of the natural landscape with the use of natural materials as far as feasible. The structure is further designed to achieve the highest leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) certification and is developed to reduce energy consumption and regenerate native flora.
As part of the first phase, the concept will include 16 hotels, expected to be completed by 2023. With the final completion aimed at 2030, the destination will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites.
The construction of the Desert Rock Resort and already started in July 2021, and it is expected to welcome the first guests by the end of 2022. Excited much?
[Via: Designboom]
